Overhead drill and anchor press

ABSTRACT

The Overhead Drill and Anchor Press is a single mobile mechanism designed for installation of anchors into a construction surface which is overhead and out of reach of the installer. The overhead drill and anchor press may include a mast, a turret assembly, a controller, and at least one drill. The overhead drill and anchor press can execute the anchor installation sequence automatically or manually with a controller by moving the drill position to drill the hole and set the anchor. The controller may be equipped with a digital display of the turret mounted camera for monitoring the process from the ground. The entire assembly may be manually pushed between target.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/884,764, filed Dec. 28, 2015.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to power tools used in the field ofconstruction, particularly a composition of tools onto a single mobilemechanism needed for installation of anchors into concrete and/ornon-concrete surfaces overhead out of reach of the installer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of construction, the conventional method of installinganchors overhead would start with elevating a person to within reach ofthe surface for the anchor to be installed. Outfitted with the properpersonal protective equipment, the installer would use a drill and drillbit capable of penetrating the surface to a prescribed depth, followedby installing the anchor, and using another set of tools to properly setthe anchor before attaching the load. This activity is generallyperformed a large number of times on a project resulting in tremendousstress and strain on a worker's muscles, joints, and tendons, resultingin unsafe conditions and loss of time and production due to fatigue andinjuries.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary purpose of this invention is to provide an operator with atool that can install an anchor into a surface which may be out of reachabove the operator's head. This invention is designed to carry all ofthe necessary equipment needed for this installation process and mayeasily move between target locations. The Overhead Drill and AnchorPress may be designed to execute its install sequence automatically ormanually with an on board controller.

The installation of an anchor generally requires a layout of locationswhich is easily done along the floor placing a mark where the anchor isto be located above. The Overhead Drill and Anchor Press may be equippedwith a laser that points down (for aligning to a mark on the floor) andup respectively to show that place on the surface above.

The Overhead Drill and Anchor Press may have a telescopic mast which isdesigned to extend straight up carrying the tools needed for drilling ahole and pressing and setting the anchor. The telescopic mast may beextended by means such as pressing air from a reservoir tank, stored ona cart, and lowered by releasing the air back out of the mast. Thisoperation is one of the sequencing steps initiated by the controller.

The present invention is equipped with a turret mounted to the top ofthe telescopic mast which operates the 2 drills attached to either sideand is equipped with a laser and a camera. The first drill is loadedwith the appropriate drill bit and programmed for drilling into thesurface. The second drill is loaded with the appropriate setting tooland anchor, and programmed to press the anchor into the hole and set theanchor by rotatory torque or percussion depending on the requirements ofthe anchor.

In one embodiment, a drill may be loaded with the appropriate drill bitand used to drill into the surface and to press the anchor into thehole, and then loaded with the appropriate setting tool and anchor andprogrammed to press the anchor into the hole and set the anchor.

The cart is equipped with casters for easy movement and iscompartmentalized for protection of the power supply system and the airtank system with a sturdy top and floor base for carrying a supply ofanchors needed for the project.

Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention overthe prior art will become apparent from the detailed description whichfollows, when considered with the figures provided herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an isometric view with the compartment doors in the openposition. View is looking at the right rear.

FIG. 1B is an isometric view with the compartment doors in the openposition. View is looking at the right front.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the right side of the overhead drill andanchor press.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the front of the overhead drill andanchor press.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the back of the overhead drill and anchorpress.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the top of the overhead drill and anchor press.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the overheaddrill and anchor press.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the turretcomponent to the overhead drill and anchor press.

FIG. 8A is an enlarged side view of the preferred embodiment of thecontroller unit to the overhead drill and anchor press.

FIG. 8B is an enlarged top view of the preferred embodiment of thecontroller unit of the overhead drill and anchor press.

FIG. 8C is the controller unit symbol legend.

FIG. 9A is an elevation view of the right side of the overhead drill andanchor press in operation mode at the perched position with the laser onfor sighting the target.

FIG. 9B is an elevation view of the right side of the overhead drill andanchor press in operation mode “sequence 1” showing the mast extended tocontact the pilot tip to the construction surface above.

FIG. 10A is an enlarged top view of the turret in operation mode in theturret start position with the laser in position of the target.

FIG. 10B is an enlarged top view of the turret in operation mode at“sequence 2” with the drill #1 in position of the target.

FIG. 10C is an enlarged elevation view of the right side in operationmode at “sequence 4” with the drill #1 advanced into the prescribeddrilling depth of the surface.

FIG. 10D is an enlarged top view of the turret in operation mode at“sequence 6” with the drill #2 in position of the target.

FIG. 10E is an enlarged elevation view of the right side in operationmode at “sequence 8.1” with the drill #2 and anchor advanced into theprescribed depth of the surface.

FIG. 10F is an enlarged top view of the turret in operation mode at“sequence 10” rotated back to the start position with the laser inposition of the target.

FIG. 11 is the operation mode block diagram of the operating sequencefor the overhead drill and anchor press.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a more thorough description of the present invention.It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that thepresent invention may be practiced without these specific details. Inother instances, well-known features have not been described in detailso as not to obscure the invention.

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are isometric views showing the preferred embodimentof the overhead drill and anchor press and includes these majorcomponents: a compartmentalized cart on casters 1, a telescopic mast 3,a turret assembly 4, a controller 5, an air reservoir tank 125, abattery 128, a battery charger 129, and a DC power supply 127. Theentire assembly of the embodiment of the overhead drill and anchor pressis designed to be manually pushed between target locations and sized tofit through standard framed door openings on a construction project.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the OverheadDrill and Anchor Press of the present invention. This view illustratesthe exploded components of the cart and placement of the majorcomponents: the telescopic mast 3, the turret assembly 4, the controller5, the air reservoir tank 125, the battery 128, the battery charger 129,and the DC power supply 127. The cart chassis framing 101 is wieldedlight weight metal and offers the support to all before mentioned majorcomponents. The cart handrail 102 is wielded to the cart chassis framing101. The cart handrail 102 has rounded corners for handling and isshaped so that the controller 5 may be placed at any location along thestraight sections (see FIG. 8A controller bracket 501). The casters 2are heavy duty, swivel, polyurethane and wielded to the chassis framing101. The rubber bumpers 117 are attached for protection of theoperator's ankles and surrounding construction objects that the cart 1may come in contact with. Each of the cart floor panels 103, 104, 105,and compartment top panels 106, 107, are constructed of light weightmaterial strong enough to support objects placed on them and are affixedto the cart chassis framing 101. A gap is left between cart floor frontleft 104 and cart floor front right 105 so that the laser down 8 (FIG.2) may pass the cart 1 to the floor for targeting. Each of thecompartment panels 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, are constructed of stronglight weight material and affixed to the cart chassis framing 101.

In FIG. 6 of the present invention the telescopic mast 3 is secured tothe cart chassis framing 101 by first attaching the two mast clamp backplates 118, setting the telescopic mast 3 in place and completing themast clamp assembly 124 by bolting in place the two mast clamp frontplates 119.

The preferred embodiment of overhead drill and anchor press includesthese powered components: [(FIG. 6) controller 5, DC power supply 127],[(FIG. 7A) servo motor#1 401, servo motor#2 402, servo motor#3 403,drill #1 430, drill #2 434, laser 413, and turret mounted camera (notshown in attached drawings)]. The above listed components are powered bythe (FIG. 6) DC power supply 127, which draws its power from the (FIG.6) battery 128 (wire and wiring connections are not shown in theattached drawings). The battery 128 is charged by the battery charger129, which is plunged into a standard outlet for charging.

FIG. 7A is and exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the turretcomponent to the overhead drill and anchor press. The main shaft 424 hasa solid connection to the main shaft mounting plate 410. The base plate425 and all components mounted to it are designed to rotate around themain shaft 424. The linear guide shafts 415 are solid mounted to thebase plate 425 with a threaded top for attaching the top plate 414. Theball screws 418 are held in place to the base plate 425 through the ballscrew bearing 429 and the top plate 414 with the ball screw lock nut.The holes in the top plate 414 that receive the ball screws 418 arebearinged for ball screw 418 rotation.

In FIG. 7A the belt 407 is placed around the main shaft 424 and theshaft of the servo motor #1 401. (The belt connection between the mainshaft 424 and the servo motor #1 401 may also be achieved through gearsin lieu of a belt). This servo motor#1 401 is affixed to the base plate425 (with a protection housing 408 affixed above it) turns the baseplate 425 about the main shaft 424 for positioning of the drills duringoperation.

The servo motor #2 402 and servo motor #3 403 are affixed to the baseplate 425 and connected to their respective ball screw 418 with a shaftcoupling 404. The ball screw 418 drives the carrier 432 which has athreaded hole in the center and two sets of linear bearings (carrierbearings 431) pressed into the carriers 432 for smooth linear movementalong the linear guide shafts 415.

The two drills, drill #1 430 and drill #2 434, are standard drillscapable of these functions separately: drill, hammer, and hammer drill.These drills have no handle but have been designed to attached to thecarriers 432 and have a plug for wiring connection to the controllerthru the cord 503 see FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B (wire and wiring connections arenot shown in the attached drawings).

In FIG. 7A of the present invention the turret component has threesections of protective cover constructed of light weight materialdesigned to keep dust and debris out of the moving parts of thisassembly. The turret top cover 439 is one piece with an opening oneither side to allow for the carriers 432 to travel up and down. Theturret base upper cover 438 and turret base lower cover 437 can be splitinto two sections for securing to base plate 425.

FIGS. 8A and 8B the overhead drill and anchor press is equipped with acontroller capable of selecting between automatic mode and manual mode.In either mode the operator may select each drill's operating mode basedon the type of surface and anchor type to be installed. If the operatorhas selected AUTO mode then the operator will need to make theselections for both drill operations and the anchor depth (with theslide switch 507) before pressing the start button 511. FIG. 8C is thesymbol legend for the controller. FIG. 11 is the operation mode blockdiagram which illustrates the sequence of operations programmed to thecontroller in AUTO mode.

FIG. 8B the controller also has the manual mode selection. If theoperator selects the manual mode, then the operator will need to processeach sequence using the rotary switches 506, selector switch 508, andmomentary switches 511. FIG. 11 is the operation mode block diagramwhich illustrates the sequence of operations that will be controlledmanually with the controller in MANUAL mode.

FIG. 9A is an elevation view of the right side of the overhead drill andanchor press in operation mode at the perched position with the laser onfor sighting the target. FIG. 9B is an elevation view of the right sideof the overhead drill and anchor press in operation mode “sequence 1”showing the mast extended to contact the pilot tip to the constructionsurface 10 above.

FIG. 10A is an enlarged top view of the turret in operation mode in theturret start position with the laser in position of the target. FIG. 10Bis an enlarged top view of the turret in operation mode at “sequence 2”with the drill #1 in position of the target. FIG. 10C is an enlargedelevation view of the right side in operation mode at “sequence 4” withthe drill #1 advanced into the prescribed drilling depth of the surface.FIG. 10D is an enlarged top view of the turret in operation mode at“sequence 6” with the drill #2 in position of the target. FIG. 10E is anenlarged elevation view of the right side in operation mode at “sequence8.1” with the drill #2 and anchor advanced into the prescribed depth ofthe surface. FIG. 10F is an enlarged top view of the turret in operationmode at “sequence 10” rotated back to the start position with the laserin position of the target. FIG. 11 is the operation mode block diagramof the operating sequence for the overhead drill and anchor press. Theabove described FIGS. 10A, B, C, D, E, and F can be referenced to FIG.11 Operation mode block diagram.

It will be understood that the above described arrangements of apparatusand the method there from are merely illustrative of applications of theprinciples of this invention and many other embodiments andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. The overhead drill and anchor press is a toolthat can install an anchor into a surface above the operator's head. Thedrill and anchor press is comprised of these major components: acompartmentalized cart on casters, a telescopic mast, a turret assembly,a controller, an air reservoir tank, a battery, a battery charger, and aDC power supply. The entire assembly of the embodiment of the overheaddrill and anchor press is designed to be manually pushed between targetlocations and sized to fit through standard framed door openings on aconstruction project. Wherein the improvement comprises a controllerwhich is designed with both automatic mode and manual mode for selectionby the operator, and designed to be hand held or may be placed at anylocation along the straight sections of the handrail of the cart. Thecontroller is equipped with a digital display of the turret mountedcamera for monitoring the process from the ground.
 2. The overhead drilland anchor press is equipped with a turret component as claimed inclaim
 1. The turret component is comprised of 3 servo motors that eachreport to, and are controlled by the controller. Two of the servo motorsoperate their perspective ball screw linear actuator type of assembly,while the third servo motor rotates the drills to position, allinclusive of the single turret component.
 3. The overhead drill andanchor press as claimed in claim 1 is equipped with two drills eachcapable of these functions separately: drill, hammer, and hammer drill.These drills have no handle but have been designed to attach to thecarriers and operated by the before mentioned controller.
 4. Theoverhead drill and anchor press is equipped with a mast component asclaimed in claim
 1. The mast functions in a straight linear motion andwith the laser point illuminating the target location reduces the needfor additional position adjustments once the operation sequence is setin motion. However, should adjustments be needed, the operator is notrestricted from such if the operation sequence has been set in motion.